Saturday’s snow covered blackthorn buds have now burst into flower.  In common with most plants this year, blackthorn is flowering early.  After the untypically warm weather in February, the recent colder snowy weather corresponds with the blackthorn buds starting to burst open and giving rise to the “Blackthorn Winter”.  Usually there is a cold spell of weather between mid March and mid April coinciding with the flowering of blackthorn hence its name.  Fortunately after the Blackthorn Winter, spring is not far behind and perhaps the Whitethorn or May hawthorn blossom will also soon be adorning the countryside ahead of the traditional month of May.